Press Releases

A third opportunity opened today for local governments in North Carolina’s rural areas to once again apply for a Rural Transformation Grant.  The popular grant program from the Department of Commerce helps communities overcome challenges that limit their economic competitiveness. Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division administers the $48 million grant fund.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 99 of North Carolina’s counties in January 2023 and decreased in one. Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 10.1 percent while Greene, Buncombe, and Orange Counties each had the lowest at 3.0 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 5.4 percent while Asheville and Raleigh each had the lowest at 3.1 percent. The January not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.7 percent.

North Carolina Main Street Champions will be recognized for their contributions to their Main Street programs and downtown districts today in Statesville. Since the recognition started in 2000, including this year’s 38 honorees, 375 Champions have been honored by the N.C. Department of Commerce. “North Carolina’s most important asset is the people that live and work in their communities, and our Main Street program teaches our communities how to leverage this invaluable resource into positive economic change,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. 

Tex-Tech Industries, a leading manufacturer of specialty textiles, will create 49 new jobs in Forsyth County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest more than $24.8 million to build a new manufacturing center in Winston-Salem. “North Carolina’s leadership in textile manufacturing helps companies like Tex-Tech stay on the cutting edge of innovation,” said Governor Cooper. “This expansion builds upon the company’s success in Forsyth County for 60 years, affirming that North Carolina is a great place to do business.”

Nine communities will receive awards for excellence in downtown revitalization during the North Carolina Main Street Awards Ceremony in Statesville this evening. Assistant Secretary of Rural Development Kenny Flowers, and Director of the North Carolina Main Street and Rural Planning Center Liz Parham, will present the awards in categories that include economic vitality, design, promotion, and organization. 

The state’s seasonally adjusted January 2023 unemployment rate was 3.8 percent, unchanged from December’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.4 percent. North Carolina’s unemployment rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 10,334 over the month to 4,972,559 and increased 23,120 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 4,198 over the month to 193,845 and increased 7,121 over the year.

Filmmakers spent more than $258 million on productions in North Carolina last year, the sixth highest year-end total since 2000, when the state started offering incentives to support the state’s film industry. “North Carolina continues to attract great film, television, and streaming projects that bring good jobs to our state,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “Last year, these projects helped create 16,000 job opportunities, including 3,000 crew and talent positions for our state’s highly skilled production workforce.”

North Carolina leaders are projecting shortages in direct care workers, nurses and other caregiving positions in the coming decade. At the same time, demand for these services is rising. To address this gap, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the North Carolina Department of Commerce are leading North Carolina’s new Caregiving Workforce Strategic Leadership Council.

Siemens Mobility, Inc., the global manufacturer of rail transportation vehicles and control systems, will build a major advanced manufacturing and rail services center in Davidson County, creating 506 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $220 million in Lexington, creating a new carbon neutral facility that will serve the company’s East Coast markets.

Today, North Carolina entered an international agreement to access new resources and expertise from the nation that built the world’s first offshore wind farm, advancing North Carolina’s development of a clean energy economy.